friday, october 12, 2007
page 10
DUKIN’ FILE PHOTO/SPPS STAFF
IT OUT
When Tech has the ball...
T
Hokie Offense Key Player: QB 5 Tyrod Taylor
Branden Ore
5-11, 205, Jr
FB 39
Carlton Weatherford
5-10, 230, Sr
WR 4
Eddie Royal
5-10, 180, Sr
WR 81
Justin Harper
6-4, 214, Sr
TE 83
Sam Wheeler
6-3, 258, So
LT 76
Duane Brown
6-5, 308, Sr
LG 67
Nick Marshman
6-3, 357, Jr
C 58
Ryan Shuman
6-3, 314, Jr
RG 66
Sergio Render
6-4, 326, So
RT 77
Ed Wang
6-5, 312, So
Blue Devil Defense DE 54 Greg Akinbiyi Defense DT 3 Vince Oghobaase
6-4, 270, So
DT 91
Ayanga Okpokowuruk
6-4, 270, So
DE 99
Wesley Oglesby
6-6, 250, Fr
LB 31
Vincent Rey
6-0, 255, So
LB 34
Michael Tauiliili
5-11, 235, Jr
LB 6
Marcus Jones
6-3, 220, Jr
CB 7
Leon Wright
5-9, 165, So
SS 28
Adrian Aye-Darko
6-2, 210, Jr
FS 27
Chris Davis
6-0, 205, Sr
CB 24
Glenn Williams
4
THINGS THINGS
to watch this
WEEKEND
6-2, 250, Jr
5-10, 185, Jr
story by charles r. barrineau, ct associate sports editor
6-1, 206, Fr This year: 48-95, 552 yds, 2 TDs, 1 INT RB 28
he No.12 Virginia Tech Hokies will travel down Tobacco Road Saturday for a Coastal Division game against the Duke University Blue Devils. As a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Hokies have owned the series against the Blue Devils, going 3-0 with a combined score of 12217—Duke has been held scoreless the last two meetings. But this year’s game may be a bit different than in years past. The Blue Devils, although 1-5 (0-3), have been a bit more competitive as of late. Not only did Duke win at Northwestern, it kept games within one score against Wake Forest and Navy. The Blue Devils were also competitive into the fourth quarter against Miami and Virginia. “They’re very, very capable,” said Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer. “They’re a better football program this year than they have been the last (few) years that we’ve played.” The Hokies had better watch out if they don’t want to be the team against whom Duke finally puts all the pieces together. Leading the Blue Devils in assembling the pieces to a victory is their starting quarterback Thaddeus Lewis. The true sophomore enters Saturday’s game as one of the top passers in the ACC. Thus far this season, Lewis has completed 57.1 percent of his passes for 1491 yards. The South Florida native has also thrown 15 touchdown passes to his seven interceptions — a marked improvement from the three touchdowns to five interceptions he threw through as many games last season. “He’s athletic and he does a great job for them,” Beamer said. “I think he’s a real threat throwing the ball (and) he’s a real threat running the football.”
But for Lewis to be able to throw the ball downfield the Blue Devils have to find a way to somewhat neutralize the Hokie defense that can, at times, stifle the opposition. “There’s been an emphasis on protecting our passer,” said Duke head coach Ted Roof. “He’s got to have time to get the ball off when we do throw it and we’ve challenged our (offensive) line, our (running) backs (and) our tight ends about taking caring care of their business.” But it’s not just on Lewis and his blockers to carry the Duke offense; the wide receivers must do their part as well. Thus far this season, Blue Devil wide receivers have done their part in passing game, with the top four wide receivers combining to average nearly 210 yards and two touchdowns per game. “Our receivers are a strong part of this team,” said Jomar Wright, who has 346 yards receiving and three touchdowns this season. “We have to make plays with the ball in our hands, yards after catch (and) making the first guy miss. And also we have to do a great job of getting separation … and we have to go out there and do our job every play.” Roof realizes that the Blue Devils must be realistic in terms of their offensive capabilities and not dig themselves into deep holes on drives. “We’ve got to play better and execute better,” Roof said. “We’ve got to stay manageable. We can’t get into a bunch of 2nd and 16s and 3rd and 18s and things like that because those types of situations, against a defense like Virginia Tech, just compound themselves.” But Stifling the Duke offense could be a bit more challenging for defensive coordinator Bud Foster’s unit this weekend with the loss of much
see DUKE, page eight
When Duke has the ball... Blue Devil Offense
Offense
Key Player: QB 9 Thaddeus Lewis 6-2, 190, So This year: 109-191, 1491 yds, 15 TDs, 7 INT RB 21
Re'quan Boyette
5-10, 210, Jr
FB 22
Brandon King
6-2, 260, So
WR 81
Jomar Wright
6-1, 200, Sr
WR 15
Eron Riley
6-3, 200, Jr
TE 80
Nick Stefanow
6-4, 235, Sr
LT 74
Cameron Goldberg
6-6, 280, Jr
LG 60
Zach Maurides
6-6, 290, Sr
C 68
Matt Rumsey
6-4, 285, Sr
RG 61
Rob Schirmann
6-5, 285, Jr
RT 70
Fred Roland
6-8, 310, Jr
Hokie Defense DE 49 Chris Ellis Defense DT 39 Carlton Powell
6-5, 267, Sr 6-2, 293, Sr
DR 59
Barry Booker
6-4, 290, Sr
DE 90
Orion Martin
6-2, 256, Jr
LB 11
Xavier Adibi
6-2, 236, Sr
LB 33
Brett Warren
6-1, 238, Jr
LB 41
Cam Martin
6-2, 211, So
ROV 17
Kam Chancellor
6-3, 220, So
CB 18
Brandon Flowers
5-10, 200, Jr
CB 1
Victor Harris
6-0, 203, Jr
FS 25
DJ Parker
6-0, 198, Sr
1. REACHING 100
2. READY IN RELIEF
3. BACK IN ACTION
4. AIR THADDEUS
Tyrod Taylor should be able to pass for over 100 yards for the first time this weekend. In addition to having one more week of practice under his belt, Taylor will be licking his chops as the Blue Devils are second-to-last statistically in pass defense in the ACC. Through six games, they have yet to play a ranked team and have managed to allow an average of 259.8 passing yards per game.
Tech will be without the familiar # 9 jersey of Vince Hall after the star linebacker suffered a broken wrist at Clemson. Without Hall, redshirt junior Brett Warren will assume the starting role while fellow redshirt junior Jonas Houseright will serve as Warren’s backup. The two backers have made 50 tackles combined in their Tech careers, a mark that is 315 tackles short of Hall’s career total.
Ed Wang will finally get the first chance to play a game at right tackle. The sophomore came to Tech as a tight end but moved this summer. Things were delayed however, when Wang broke his left ankle before the season started. His return to the starting lineup will allow Nick Marshman to move back to left guard and will strengthen a unit that has been often-criticized.
Even though his Blue Devils are 15, Thaddeus Lewis’ passing has been a bright spot. The sophomore is tied for first in the ACC with 15 touchdown passes, third in passes completed, and third in total passing yards. Tech’s secondary, which is currently ranked sixth in the ACC in pass defense, will have to be on its game to prevent Lewis from gouging it downfield.
EQUAL HOUSING
OPPORTUNITY